I am writing about proposals to add new affordable, accessible dwelling units to the basements of two apartment buildings in the 49th Ward. One building is located at 6413 N. Glenwood and the other is located at 6453-55 N. Newgard.

The new basement units in both buildings are intended to provide affordable housing to people with mobility impairments. The dwelling units would be built out to be fully ADA compliant and would be accessed using chair lifts. Restrictive covenants will keep the units affordable for the next ten years.

After careful consideration of the opinions and suggestions of the 49th Ward Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee and the residents who attended the meeting or corresponded with my office, I have decided toSUPPORT the proposals.

Below are the details of the proposals and my reasons for supporting them:

The Proposals

The first proposal would add a basement unit to a two-flat apartment building at 6413 N. Glenwood (see photo on right).

The building rests on a 4,063 square-foot lot. The proposal requires a zoning change on the property from its current classification, RS3, which allows a maximum of two dwelling units, to RT3.5, which allows one dwelling unit for every 1,250 square feet. The proposal includes the creation of a fully ADA compliant disabled parking spot in the rear portion of the lot.

For a copy of the proposed site plan and floor plan for the new unit, click on the attachments below:

The second proposal would add two basement units to a six-flat apartment building at 6453-55 N. Newgard (see photo on left).

The building rests on a 6,147 square-foot lot. The proposal to add two basement units requires a zoning change on the property from its current classification, RS3, which allows a maximum of two dwelling units, to RT4.5, which allows one dwelling unit for every 700 square feet. The lot currently has a four car garage, which would be demolished to create six parking spaces.

For a copy of the proposed site plan and floor plan for the new unit, click on the attachments below:

Please note that after the site plan was developed, the City notified the owner that it will require one of the parking spaces to be ADA compliant, in which case five parking spaces will be created behind the building. The owner will need to receive an administrative adjustment from the City’s zoning administrator to exempt him from the zoning code requirement for six spaces.

My Reasons for Supporting the Proposals

If our community is to remain economically diverse and home to people of all incomes, we must embrace creative proposals, such as this, that will add to our neighborhood’s affordable and accessible housing stock. Unlike other affordable housing proposals, which often cost the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars per housing unit, the affordable housing under this program is created at no cost to the taxpayer. It is clearly a win-win for the taxpayers and those who need this kind of housing.

I have heard not strong objections to either proposal. About a dozen community residents attended each meeting. Those attending either supported the proposals or expressed no opinion.

For these reasons, I strongly support the proposed zoning changes.

After permits are issued for each project, I will ask the owners to apply to change the zoning back to its original designation.

If you have any questions or further comments regarding my decision, please feel free to reply to this email.